Students come from a variety of backgrounds, with different languages, skills, learning abilities and disabilities, and individual needs. To meet these challenges, some elementary and junior-high school districts are adopting programs that support the individual profiles of their students, as by offering a home independent study program where the children are taught by their parents. Parents are provided advice and educational materials from accredited teachers in the district. One district that follows this model is the Cabrillo Unified School District just south of San Francisco, California.
Some school districts also provide independent study programs for grades 9-12. Independent study is seen as an alternative way to complete a high school education outside of the classroom but still within the framework of the district's educational requirements. These students are required to complete an education contract involving individualized instruction and community resources.
Colleges, such as the University of Arizona Outreach College and other UA departments, offer summer learning camps that provide educational enrichment, academic exploration and inventive discovery. This type of program offers students the resources they need to learn about topics that interest them and that are not always possible to explore within the traditional school curriculum.
Online companies, such as the Connections Academy, offer tuition-free online public school and affordable online private school educations. The programs at Connections Academy offer individual customized instruction by qualified teachers. Each student receives an education that is based on his abilities, learning style, and interests.